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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

This question was posted on a popular actors forum, and I posted an answer that I wanted to repost here:

“I was attending a musical theatre program at a large university, and ended up booking a national tour and taking time off to pursue the tour opportunity. I used to have on my resume 'BFA in progress' listed next to my university credits. Now, I am taking a year off from school to pursue some other opportunities that have since arisen.

I feel that having 'BFA in progress' still on my resume will give some casting directors the impression that I wouldn't accept a role if it would interfere with the school year. Especially if it is for lower amounts of pay. Do you have any opinions on whether or not I should keep 'BFA in progress'? or should I take it off? Or maybe something like "BFA on hold" or something along those lines?"

TAE responds:

Hello! This is a great question, and there are lots of ways to handle this. You can either keep "BFA (in progess)" or you can specify how long you have been there- for example:

Pepperdine University (2 years- BFA candidate)

The latter might help address your concern that CDs might think you are unavailable. You could, instead, add the words "on hiatus," like:

Pepperdine University (on hiatus- BFA candidate)

Hope this helps- congratulations on being a part of a great program, and also for getting out there and getting amazing experience. Way to go!

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erin cronican: founder / coach

Erin Cronican is a professional actor (AEA/SAG-AFTRA) and has been coaching on the business of acting since 2007. She is a columnist for Backstage magazine and is the Managing Director of The Seeing Place Theater, a critically acclaimed indie theater in NYC.